Yunlin County’s legislative by-election and the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp (THSRC) scandal have been hot topics for debate. These two seemingly unrelated incidents reflect the profound influence of Confucianism on Taiwanese culture: A person who has completed his or her studies should enter government service and dedicate themselves to the country. Academic credentials and integrity have become the criteria on which an issue is judged. On the other hand, local factions and high-salaried “fat cats” are being sacrificed on the altar of morality.
Despite the complex reasons for the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) crushing defeat in the recent by-election, it is generally accepted that the central government’s incompetence and local factions are the two main causes. Following Chang Li-shan’s (張麗善) withdrawal of her candidacy for the year-end Yunlin County commissioner election, factionalism led to the KMT Central Standing Committee’s decision to select a candidate with an advanced degree to reshape the party’s image.
It is commendable that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has tried to distance himself from local factions, but we should ask whether holding a doctorate in and of itself means that one is not affiliated with a faction.
Educational credentials may not be a main factor, but given the almost superstitious belief in Taiwan of the value of academic credentials, local leaders spare no effort to have their offspring receive a higher education and collaborate with academics to enhance their control over their regions.
It would be naive or misleading to claim that the nomination of candidates with advanced degrees will preclude vote buying by local factions. And I don’t think many people would believe me if I said seasoned KMT officials were naive.
If we look at the list of candidates in the Yunlin County commissioner election, we will find that each of them, regardless of their education, is supported by a faction. Clearly, the KMT says one thing and does another because factions are still put on the front burner at election time. However, it is worth considering why a majority of people seem to agree that doctorates ensure probity and capability.
This is the epitome of the Confucian influence on Taiwanese culture: To be a scholar is to be on top of the world. A poor father would instantly become a model parent if his son obtained a doctorate. This is not necessarily the case with a father whose son succeeds in business.
Confucianism often makes much of “sacrificing oneself for the country at all cost.” It has become a deeply rooted stereotype that anyone with a higher education can rule a country, be free from corruption and yet retain the common touch.
Making money and talking of riches are what businesspeople at the lowest level of the social ladder do. People tend to associate “fat cats” with graft and corruption and people with doctorates with integrity and patriotism.
Such a Confucian culture helped elevate Ma, who applies the same standard to his control over factions and business circles. Therefore, the KMT demand that county commissioner candidates have doctorates and that no fat cats be allowed to assume managerial positions at THSRC.
Maybe the KMT has forgotten, or intentionally pretends not to understand, that people with doctorates can also be affiliated with local factions, and that the most avaricious and ignorant individual — the higher-ups in state-run organizations — are not necessarily the wealthiest.
It is up to the KMT bigwigs to decide whether to rule the country based on Confucianism or by selecting people of high caliber.
Wang Yu-fong is an assistant professor at National Kaohsiung Marine University.
TRANSLATED BY TED YANG
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